Impulse transmitting device



March 2, 1937. J. L. A. VANHEERSWYNGHELS 2,072,572

IMPULSE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed May 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiE.E 39 4O 41 36 33 ATTORNEY 4 4 m/ 449 M/ Q 4 FEA- TW TY Viv 3 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 2,072,572 IMPULSE TRANSMITTING DEVICE Joseph Lon Auguste Vanheerswynghels, Brussels,

- Belgium Application may 9, 1933, Serial No. 670,137 In Belgium May 12 1932 '1' Claims. (01. 179-90) My invention relates to improvements in electrical impulse transmitting devices such as those used in telephone systems of the type having an automatic central station, and more especially a to that part of the apparatus adapted to transmit the callednumber to the central stationot the system.

Heretofore, in mechanisms of this type. the

number called was relayed to the central station 10 by the displacement of one or more rotatable members. A rotatable disc 'or dial, one for each figure of the called number, is rotated anamount proportional to each of the figures of the numbers, and the impulse fo'rmedby each revolution l5 transmitted to the central station whfle (the disc returned to is initial position. The disadvantage of such systems resides in the fact that, during the successive operations-required to dial a desired number, one making the call often becomes confused and forgets the remainder of the numher being called, resulting both in a loss of time .and the cost of making the call. It is an object of this invention to provide such a telephone ,system whereby this disadvantage is obviated. Another object ofmy invention is to provide means whereby it is possible to dial a given number but once if the said number is to be called several times in succession.

A further object of the invention is to avoid the necessity ofremoving the receiver of the telephone apparatus whileputting through the call for any desired, number- An impulse transmitting system embodying the features of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which; Fig.4 is a plan view of an impulse transmitting device associatedwith a number for ing member;

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of amodified form of a number forming member;

Fi 3is a plan view of an electric contact plate used in conjunction with the number formlngmembe'r; and I Fig. 4 isfa plan viewof a number card. The impulse transmitting deViceiIlustrated-in Figure '1 ot the drawings consists of a transmitting member A and its associated number formhas figures. In the illustration shown, the d-' The system may,

vice is provided' with three groups of contacts P, S, and T. Each individualgroup is composed of. twenty contacts arranged on the same circumference of the disc and forming a crown. In each group of twenty contacts there is a first 5 series of ten contacts I, 2, 3, 0, corresponding to the figures 1, 2, 3, 0. Between each contact of the first series of ten contacts there is a contact ll. Consequently, in each group P, S and T, there are nine contacts ll forming a second series of contacts, and separating the groupsP, S, and T there is a contact l2.

The contacts ll of each group are connected together by a wire 13 which in turn is connected to both thecontacts l2 and arranged on each 15 side of the groups. One of the contacts l2, for instance the contact I2, is connected to oneof the terminals I4,-l5 of the'telephone system-.. The leads l6 and II are the terminals of thetelephone line. I

One of these terminals, the terminal I6, is

connected to a fixed wiper l8 resting on'a ring l9 surrounding the axis of a brush or commutating switch 20 resting normally on the contact l2. This switch is adapted to be rotated about the axle 19'. Any well known type of governor mechanism may be used for controlling. thespeed of rotation of the wiper l8 if'desired.

when the apparatus is not in use,- the circuit through terminals II and I5 to the tele--'30 phone apparatus is closed, the current from the central station passing from the terminal l6 to. the wiper IS, the ring l9, brush 20, contact l2, terminal l4 (telephone apparatus which is not shown), terminal l5,ltermina1 I1 and the telephone line connected to thelatter. This position of'the brush 20 corresponds tothe posi-. tion of rest of the transmitting member during when a call can be produced by another set, and conversation between the two started. 40

" From each of the first series or contacts in the transmitting device.

The number forming member B shown in Fig- :u re'2 or the drawlngs,.comprises one group of fixed contacts 23 and one group of fixed contacts 24, each group being separated from each other and arranged one above the other. Each group forms three parallel rows. of ten contacts, the number of rows in each group depending upon The contacts2I and 24 are connected in pairs by means or conductors 2! and 26 to a single conductor 2| forming part of a cable 22 composed of ten conductors'2l originating from a series of ten contacts i,'2, I, I of the impulse transmitting device. Between the two groups of fixed contacts 2I and.24 there is arranged a plate 21 carried by supports 2I pivoted at, 29 and oscillatl0 ting on pins III.

' The plate 21 is provided with a metal blade II disposed on both the upper and lower sides of the plate. The blade 3 I. as shown in Figure 3, is provided, by means of a stamping operation, with small rectangular slips I2. These slips project slightly beyond the surface of the blade Ii and act as springs. v cular portion II at its free end adapted'to exert a pressure on the correspondingfixed contacts 23 or 24 r each group, dependingupon the movement of the plate 21. In the lowered position of 2,072,572 the number 01' figures in the callednumber. i

Theswitch 20 then passes successively over all the contacts of the groups P, S, and T and comes againto rest on the contact i2 from which it started; the current, coming from the terminal l8 oi. the telephone line and passing through the 5 fixed wiper II, the ring is and the switch 20,

passes, each time the switch comes into contact Each slip is provided with a cir- Y the plate 21, the portions 33 will rest upon the contacts ll and, as seen in the drawings, in the upper position of the plate 21, they will rest upon the contacts 23, The plate 21 is held in position bymeans oi aspring II whichis fixedto the casing of the apparatus at II. The metal blades 3l 0! the'plate 21 are connected by means 01' a conductor II to one-oi the contacts i2 between each of the groups P,-S, and T and to the conductor connecting the terminal [I of the telephone apparatus to the terminal ll of the telephone line.

In the illustration shown in Figure 2,-the, group 0! fixed contacts 2: is used tor the formation of all desired call numbers andthe group or fixed contacts 24 for calling numbers which have been previously prepared. I i s group of fired contactsdlcorresponds in ,eachline to one of the figures-forming part of the number tobe calledandare connectedbythe conductors 2| ,0! the.cable 22 to the corresponding conticts I, 2, I, contacts P, B and T The group of fixed contacts 24, by means or the conductors 2I, is also connected-to the corresponding-contacts \l, 2,

,I, .5, I of the group ohcontacts P, B, and T.

Corresponding to each line oi. contacts 23, there is a bar II of insulating material, provided at one end with a bevelled edge a and adapted to be 5o 'displaced by a controlllngtnob a disposed at the other libehb'ar I1 carries, inagreement with the fixed contacts 23 and 24, the figures l, 2,

3, 0, and eachoi'these figures cal bebrought; by w otthebinunderanopeninglll; formed thewallli oi'thecasin'gotthe apps-.-

ratusabove aiixedsupportfl usedasaguide tor the movable bars I'l.

- The operation of .the apparatus is as follows when it'is desired to obtain a predetermined call 6 number:

. As has been explained heretofore, the impulse transmitting member A is at rest when the telephone apparatus is normally in circuit. 11; at

. that instant, all the insulating bars 11 are com- Dletely pushed into the position as shown.inPig-- ure 2, and the movable plate 21 is in its upper position, all the fixed contacts a are insulatedby means or these bars ,from the projections a car ried By the slips I20! the metallic blade a which 1 is provided'on the plate 21. It then, the brush 2I is caused to be rotated manually,-i'or example,

around the axle or pivot II, itwill, upon leaving the contact i2 connected to the the telephone circuit.

terminal II of apparatus. put the latter out of I 01' one 01' the'group oimitted for each of the groups of contacts P, S,

which it is returned to the central station through the conductor connecting the ,terminal l5 of the 'telephone'apparatus to the terminal ll -of the line. Also, eachtime the switch '20 comes into contact with one of the contacts i, 2, 3, 0

the current is interrupted as these contacts are each connected by means of one of the conductors 2| to one corresponding contact of the groups of fixed contacts which are insulated by the bars 31 from the contacts 33 ofthe movable plate 2l, the passage of the current through the conductor 36 to the line being impossible. Consequently, if all the bars, three in number being illustrated, insulate-all the contacts 23 from the contacts-33, the switch 20, during its movement on the contacts i, 2, I, .11 of each group of contacts P, S, and T will produce for each group a ten impulse train, the impulses being in reality producedby current interruptions in the line going to' the central station. In the illustration shown, the position of the bars 31 is such that the figure 000" is seen underthe opening 40, this figure giving rise to ten successive impulses or interruptions.

- .On the other hand, a correspondence between 1, 2, 3, 0 of the fixed contacts 23 and 1, 2, 3, 0 of the, contacts .33 of the slips'32 will reduce the number 01 impulses which are transand T to nine, eight, seven, 'etc.

The contacts 23 which correspond in each line of contacts to the figures 1, 2, 3, 0 of the bars.

- "being connected by the conductors 25 to the previously-prepared. l 'or this purpose,-aplate of contacts i, 2, I, 0 01' each of the groups P, 45 S, and .T of the impulse transmitting member A, it will be easily understood that in order to form any desired number, it is only necessary to have at one's disposal as many bars 31 asthere are figures in the number to be formed and the number oi contacts of the transmitting member comprising as many groups P, S, and T of contactsas there are bars 31. t

In order to form the number desired, the mov-' able bars '31 are displaced an amount so as to 50 cause the number to be formed to appear under the opening II. Each bar then cuts out of circuit as many contacts '23 and consequently asv many contacts I, 2, I, f Ii of the corresponding groups P 8, and T, as there are units in the figure 01 each individual "bar which appears under the opening II. I

'ilhe number forming member can also be used for the calling of a number which has been 65 insulating material, which will hereinafter be termed a number card, is used.v $uch a number card-is illustrated in Figure 4, and it is used in combination with the group oi fixed contacts 2 connected'to the groups of contacts of the impulse transmitting'member A in the same manner as tlie groups of contacts 22. This card is. provided with columns or figures 1,2,3, etc., one column for each digit otjthe telephone number. By a l I stamping operation the numbers in each column 75 in excess of the figure of the telephone number represented by that column are punched-or cut out. The -card illustrated corresponds to the number 407, the perforations being represented 5 by circles not provided with figures. A'number cardfor such telephone numbers as are frequently called by the subscriber may be constructed in this manner for the convenience of the subscriber. The number card is also provided with additional perforations 45 which serve as guides in the positioning of the card in the mechanism. They can also be provided with tab 46 so that they are easilyavailable when kept in filing cabl5 inets. Provision is also made, as'at 41, for any indicia or advertising matter to be printed on the card.

In operation, the number card is placed, at the start of the formation of the called number to which it corresponds, on the lower group of the fixed contacts 24, and the movable plate 21' is lowered on the card in such a manner that the contacts 33 of the metallic blade 3| on the lower face of the plate 21 close the circuits correspond- 4 25 ing to the perforations so that when the switch 20 is rotatedthe impulses correspond to each of the figures of the number to be called.

' The apparatus may also be provided with a movable member suitably controlled that will cause the switch 20 to be completely rotated at the desired moment and by a lever modify the position of the plate 2'l' and indicate this 'position with respect to the groups of fixed contacts 23 and 24. J

The impulse transmitting member could also be provided with a lower number of groups of contacts I, 2, 3, 0, theswitch 20, in such a case, making a greater number of revolutions in order to transmit a number. In such a case, an 40 automatic commutator of any well-known type could cooperate with the. crown in order to obtain the interruption resulting from the passing of the switch over a group of contacts. If the num-'- ber of contacts-of the crown be only one, the\ switch 20 will effect as many revolutions as the numbers of the telephone system comprise figures. It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings and described above within the principle and scope of the invention as'expressed in the appended claims.

What I claim is: 1. An impulse device for an automatic telephone system comprising means for causing a series of electrical impulses including a plurality of fixed contacts including two groups, each group including alternate contacts of'a series of contacts. a movable contact mounted to engage the several fixed contacts successively, and control means for modifying the number of impulses caused by the movement of the movable contacts over the fixed contacts including means for varying the electrical interconnection of the fixed contacts.

2. An impulse device for an automatic telephone system comprising means for causing a series of electrical impulses including a plurality of fixed contacts including two groups. each roup including alternate contacts of a series of contacts, a movable contact mounted to engage the several fixed contacts successively, and controlmeans for modifying the number of impulses causedby the movement of the movable contact over the fixed contacts including another set of a plurality oi contacts comprising, one for each series of electricalimpulses including two groups 10 l of fixed contacts, each group including alternate contacts of a series and one group having nine contacts and the other ten contacts, a movable contact mounted to engage the fixed .contacts 7 successively, and control means for modifying 15 the number of impulses caused by moving the movable contact over the fixed contact including another set of ten fixed electrical contacts, each electrically connected to a contact of the group of ten contacts in the impulse forming means, and means cooperating therewith for electrically connectingthe contacts of the control means to the group of nine contacts in the impulse forming means.

4. Animpulse device for an, automatic tele- 25 phone system comprising means for causing a series of electrical impulses including two groups of fixed contacts, each group including alternate contacts of a series of.contacts and one group having nine contacts and the other ten contacts, 30 a movable contact mounted to engage the fixed contacts successively; and control means for modifying the number .of impulses caused by moving the movable contact over, the fixed contact including another setof ten fixed electrical 35 contacts, each electrically connected to-a contact of the group of ten contacts in the impulse forming means, means cooperating therewith for electrically connecting the contacts of the control means to the group of nine contacts in the 40 impulse forming means, and means for varying the number of contacts in the control means connected to the group'of nine contacts in the impulse forming means.

5. An impulse device for an'automatic-tele- 6 phone system comprising means for causing a series of electrical impulses including two' groups of fixed contacts, each group including alternate -2 contacts of a series or contactsand one group having 'nine contacts and the other ten contacts, 60 a movable contact mounted to engage the fixed contacts successively, and control means for mod-r ifying the number of impulses caused by moving the movable contact over the fixed contact ineluding another group of ten fixedelcctrical G5 I contacts, each electrically connected to a contact of the group or ten contacts in the impulse forming means, means movable into cooperation with i the contacts of the control means for electrically connecting the contacts of the control means to 00 the group of nine contacts in the impulse causing means, and means for varying the number of contacts in the control means connected tothe group of nine contacts in the impulse form-a .ing means upon operation of said movable means. 05

for modifying the number of impulses in each series of impulses caused by moving the movable contact over the fixed contacts including a control for each series of fixed contacts in the impulse forming means and each controlcomprising ten fixed electrical contacts, each connected' to a contact or the group of ten contacts in the corresponding series 01' contacts in the impulse forming means, means movable into cooperation with the fixed contacts of the control means for electrically connecting the .con-

tacts thereof to the group of nine contacts in.

the corresponding series of contacts of the impulse forming means, and means for varying the number of contacts. 0! theseveral controls connected to the group of nine contacts in the corresponding series 0! contacts of the impulse forming means upon operation of said movable means. 7. An, impulse device for an automatic telephone system comprising means for causing several series 01' electrical impulses including several series oi" fixed electrical contacts, one for each number in the call numbers 01' the telephone system and each seriesincluding two groups of iying the number of impulses in each series ol'v impulses causedby moving the movable contact over the fixed contacts-including a control for each series of fixed, contacts in the impulse formlng means and each control comprising ten fixed electrical contacts, each connected to a contact 10 of the group of ten contacts in the corresponding seriesv of contacts in the impulse forming means, means movable into cooperation with the fixed contacts of the control means for electrically connecting the contacts thereof to the group 15 or nine contacts in the corresponding series 01 contacts of the impulse forming means, and

, means individual to each control for varying the number of contacts of the control connected to" the group of nine contacts in its corresponding series of contacts of the impulse forming means upon operation of said movable means.

JosEPH'LEoN'AUGUsTE vsnmmswimoms. I 

